FUTURE OF CHEESE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 149, 25 June 1915, Page 9

FUTURE OF CHEESE

NEED FOR STORAGE. HARBOUR BOARD'S DECISION. "The time is not far distant," said Mr. Harkness at the Harbour Board meeting last evening, "when buttermaking for export will be almost a. thing of the past, and the cheese trade will grow to very much larger dimensions than at present In fact, next season, given reasonably favourable weather, we shall export 45,000 tons of cheese." His remarks arose out of a proposal of Mr. A. Macfarlane that the board should prepare plans for a cool store for the accommodation of cheese. There was 40,000 crates of cheese to be provided for now A store to take 12,500 tons of cheese should be provided. Time was being lost by the board in discussing this matter. He was sure that the store would be 'used. The Chairman (Mr. Daniell) said a scheme to cost £32,000, and £8000 for insulating plant, would meet the case, including the existing store. He had informed the Dairy Commissioner that the board would only be prepared to go on with the store if the Government made it mandatory that it would be used for cheese. Mr Harkness pointed out that provision would have to be made for a differential rate for cheese already cooled and graded, instancing what was done at Patea for cheese for export from Wellington. Cheese was unlike wool. It had to be graded by statute and must go into the grading store, so that there was no doubt whatever that the proposed store would be used. The board finally resolved — "That the engineer be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for an addition lothe present Z store, with refrigerating machinery sufficient to cool 12.500 tons of cheese during the season, contingent upon thi 1 board receiving a guarantee from the Agricultural Department that all cheese shipped from Wellington pa&s through the store, and that a differential rats be drawn up for cheese arriving cooled."